Killing of innocents not jihad: Jamiat leader

Condemning the Paris attack by terror group Islamic State, Jamiat Ulema-I-Hind leader Maulana Mahmood Madani said on Tuesday that killing of innocents could never be regarded as an act of jihad (holy war).

"Killing of one innocent person means killing the whole humanity," Madani said at a press conference at the Constitution Club here.

Quoting the Quran, he said, "There is no justification for killing innocents in Islam."

"There are no ifs and buts," Madani added.

The Jamiat Ulema-I-Hind leader said the IS had misused the Quran to spread hate and violence in the world.

"They (IS) claim they are waging a jihad and represent the real face of Islam. It is also a matter of grave concern for us that some elements associate these mindless acts of violence with Muslims and Islam," he said.

"Waging jihad is a positive act intended to root out evil from society. Killing of innocent people can never be regarded as an act of jihad at all," Madani added.

He said terror attacks caused maximum harm to the Muslims.

He also said that no other country in the world was better than India for the Muslims to live in.

"I am saying with full responsibility that no other country is better than India for Muslims," Madani said.

He said his organisation would hold peaceful demonstrations across the country against terror.

"We will hold protest marches from November 18 onwards in various cities across India," Madani said.